Method and device for slaughtering fish in particular white fish

Abstract

A device and method for slaughtering fish, in particular white fish, has at least one fish receptacle for positioning and receiving the fish, a throat cutting apparatus for cutting through the throat in preparation for the pharynx cut, a pharynx cutting apparatus for completely cutting through the pharynx, a slaughtering apparatus for opening the abdominal cavity, a gut severing apparatus for releasing the entrails from the abdominal cavity and a peripheral fish receiving drum with which the fish can be moved to the individual processing stations. The fish receiving drum is driven intermittently in rotation about a horizontal shaft. The fish are movable transversely to their longitudinal axis on an essentially vertical circular path. The fish receptacle includes pectoral fin receptacles and a torso clamp for fixing the fish torsos. Also, a head support with a head clamp is provided.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001](1) Field of the Invention[0002]The invention concerns a device and method for slaughtering fish, in particular white fish.[0003](2) Description of Related Art[0004]In devices and methods of the known kind, after a manual throat cut the fish are laid in fish receptacles of the fish receiving drum and moved continuously past the individual work stations which are located in the region of the circular path of the drum. It also happens that the fish are laid without their throats cut in the known devices. The fish receiving drum is rotatable about a vertical shaft, so that the fish are laid in the fish receptacles with the head pointing upwards (that is, in a vertical position) and with the tail at the bottom, and moved on an essentially horizontal circular path.[0005]In devices of the above-mentioned kind, it is of particular importance that on the one hand the ergonomic conditions for the operator meet the requirements and on the other hand the unhead...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]It is therefore the object of the present invention to propose a device and a method with which simplified handling is guaranteed during slaughtering particularly of white fish within a size range from 35 to 90 cm and at the same time the slaughtering result is improved.

[0017]In an advantageous method, the head and the web between the collarbone tip and the connecting point of the gills are pushed down before the throat cut, so that the skin in the region of the collarbone tip is stretched. Due to stretching, firstly the throat cutting apparatus can cut through the skin more easily and cleanly. Secondly, the throat cutting apparatus with the circular blade is applied almost perpendicularly to the connecting web, guaranteeing reliable separation.

Problems solved by technology

All the above devices and methods, however, have the disadvantage that they display unfavourable ergonomics for the operator, particularly against the background that the devices are used mainly on board fishing boats / trawlers which sometimes have a deck height of not more than 2 m. In the known devices, the operator must bend over the device on account of the arrangement of the fish receiving drum, which is possible only with great difficulty in the cramped conditions.

Further, the operator must perform lifting work due to the position of the fish in the fish receptacle, which, considered over the day / shift, on account of the heavy weight is an enormous physical burden.

Furthermore, the cutting results with the known devices and methods are not satisfactory, particularly as far as preparation of the fish for further processing as saltfish is concerned.

A further disadvantage lies in that the entrails are destroyed with the traditional devices or during the known methods, so that they are no longer usable or contaminate the fish or abdominal cavity with germs or the like.

Due to the fact that the fish are transported and processed in vertical orientation, there is a lack of head support, leading to inconsistent and imprecise cuts, as the head is movable throughout processing.

As a result of this, moreover, the head cannot be carried away at any location due to the lack of fixing.

Continuous transport of the fish at the individual processing stations also leads to the cutting results being sometimes inadequate, as precise processing on a moving object is very difficult or requires very high structural expenditure.

However, this leads to a cut which damages the collarbones and is imprecise in guiding the cut.

Further, by a method without prior throat cutting it is not ensured that the membrane is reliably severed from the entrails.

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